Mana eva manushyanam karanam bandha mokshayah.
bandhaya vishaya sango, muktya nirvishayam manah ||
(Mind is the cause of bondage and mind is the cause of liberation. Mind absorbed in sense objects is the cause of bondage and mind detached from the sense objects is the cause of liberation)
The human mind is like a knife serving in two ways, to cut vegetables in kitchen, or to cut throats by the malevolent elements in the society. How to realise the true purpose for which it is being enshrined in the human body by the Almighty? Here one has to consider how one's mind is being conditioned from the childhood. The parental care, their interest in the child in inculcating good thoughts, good habits, moral and ethical based story-telling, taking to places of worship and satsangs are all healthy
gestures, sowing the seeds of a noble character that sees flowering of a venerable personality in later life.
I am thankful to my parents for providing me such idealistic environment in my childhood. My father, (pencil sketch in 'arenart'), was a public servant of the rank of Deputy Collector. He was versant in Urdu, as of official necessity, to read land documents. None the less he was very much spiritual. We had regular magazines from Divine Life Society, Rishikesh. He was such an admirer that, I have faint remembrance of some yogies from north India being invited by my father as guests. It seems their blessings latent in me then - like a bamboo seed - are on the path of fruition now.
My thoughts shared above have specific purpose of understanding the less fortunate ones in this world who could not be brought up in an healthy environment with proper monitoring by the parents
and gurus from the childhood. Such people become slaves of their own mind, which leads them astray to many vices in this society. How much difficult it is to extricate ourselves from such entanglements in the worldly matters, is narrated as a matter of caution by the savant Annamayya
in the language of metaphors. The keertana is, "Bharamaina Vepamanu Palu Posi Penchinanu".
'Bitterness' is the natural attribute of the neem (margosa) tree. Even if it is nourished by (sweet) milk regularly, can it change its quality? Can it transform from bitterness to sweetness? If a dog's tail is straightened and tied to a stick, does it change it's quality? Does the curved tail become straight?
'The mortal body tends towards flesh pleasures. What is the use of better advice given to them, when they turn deaf ear. They revel in being entangled in the lurch. Let alone with any piece of good counselling to them.
'If a sharp-edged axe is immersed in water and left in a corner, does it become softened (flexible) and lose its sharp cutting down qualities, over a period of time?
'Mind is accustomed to indulging in 'Pancha Maha Patakas' (The five great sins are, killing of a brahmin, intoxicants, theft of gold, adultery with guru's wife, lastly befriending with those, indulging in the said four) and became entrapped in them. How much relentlessly persuaded, the mind is not coming on to the right path.
'If a scorpion is brought, wrapped in a cloth and kept in our lap with affection, does it stop stinging thus cause untold pain and misery?
'The best way is to awaken and surrender our egos to the Almighty within, the path to mukti, liberation!'
'A silver lining in the dark cloud' ! Such is the magnanimity of messages from noble souls like Annamacharya passed down to us with concern for our betterment and realisation !
No comments:
Post a Comment